About Us

History of the School of Library and Information Sciences

The School of Library and Information Sciences of North Carolina Central University was authorized by the State Legislature in 1939 when the charter of the then North Carolina College for Negroes was amended for the purpose of allowing the establishment of graduate and professional programs at the College. That amendment established the program in library education and the mission of educating African American librarians for the state of North Carolina.

Class Picture

In the fall of 1939, the College offered a course of study through the Department of Library Science. The School of Library Science was organized as a professional school in 1941.Three programs wereoffered during the first two years of the operation of the School of Library Science. The professional program for the Bachelor of Library Science (B.L.S.) degree was established for persons holding a baccalaureate degree at the time of entrance, and undergraduate majors and minors were offered through the College of Arts and Sciences.

The undergraduate major was discontinued in 1943. Ten years later, in 1953, the School awarded its final B.L.S. degree. The master's program in Library Science was initiated in 1950, with the first Master of Library Science (M.L.S.) degree being awarded in 1951. The master's program in Library Science was originally accredited by the American Library Association in 1975. The name of the school was changed to the School of Library and Information Sciences in 1984. In January, 1989, the School began offering a joint program in law librarianship and legal information systems. Since 1990, the school offers Master of Information Science (M.I.S).

DeansDean Dorothy Williams Collins

Events

1938 – University Librarian, Jackson and Assistant Librarian, Anne Shepherd (daughter of NCCU founder James E. Shepherd) teach first classes in library science at NCCU.
1939 – North Carolina College for Negroes (NCCU) awarded Library Science program
1942 – School of Library Science, first state funded library school in the nation at a historically black college/university
1946 – Dorothy Williams Connors, first full-time Dean of Library School. Left in 1947 to take position at the United Nations.
1963 – Evelyn Pope (hired in 1945 as faculty member) becomes acting Dean upon the death of Dean Moore. ALA Accreditation begins.
SLIS Faculty1970 – Annette Phinazee , Dean. Earnest work on ALA Accreditation.
1970 – School hired first SLIS librarian (Hazel Louise Stephenson). She serves for one year.
1971 – School of Library Science Alumni Association formed.
1975 – Accreditation of the NCCU School of Library Science program by ALA announced at the ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco.
1976 – Alumni Association reaffirms mission to support the Library School program. Created the Jenkins-Moore Scholarship (in honor of Dean Moore and Professor Ann Jenkins) with $10,000 in contributions.
Late 1970’s – NCCU School of Library Science students participate in community movement for a county library branch in downtown Durham. Dr. Kenneth Shearer worked with students, community coalition organizer Barry Wallace, Dr. Phinazee and Head of Durham Technical College Library.
Late 1970’s – NCCU School of Library Science offer courses in the evening and weekends, so that students who worked to attend classes.
1976 (October 8-9) – Colloquium on the Black Librarian in the South East held to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the School of Library Science. National Conference with participants from all over the country discussing the history and future of black librarianship in the United States.
1980 – NCCU School of Library Sciences becomes the first library school in North Carolina to have a dedicated computer lab. 18 computer stations set up with funding of about $58,000 over a long weekend when funds became unexpectedly available. Mostly Apples and a few IBM’s.
1980 (March 11-21) – Dr. Phinazee, Dr. Shearer and Dr. Speller conducted workshops in Kuwait about library education.
1982 – “The Black Librarian in the Southeast: Reminiscences, Activities, Challenges” published about the 1976 Colloquium and the 35th Anniversary of NCCU School of Library Science.
1983 (July 25) – NCCU School of Library Sciences surprises Dr. Phinazee with a luncheon in her honor. 300 people attended the lunch at the Governors Inn. Organized by the faculty and Alumni Association, included representatives from most of the library professional organizations and North Carolina Central University officials.
1983 – School of Library Science creates an Extension Program at UNC-Pembroke to train librarians to work in schools with Native American populations in Roberson County, North Carolina.
1989 – School celebrates 50th Anniversary. Events include discussion of the history of the school, library education and contributions of African-Americans to librarianship.